Eliska Zigova was highly impressed with our saffron: MD TPO Khalid Jahangir

PAMPORE: In a significant move to enhance bilateral relations and identify business opportunities, a high-level delegation led by Eliska Zigova, the Ambassador of the Czech Republic to India, visited the Indian International Saffron Trade Center (IIKSTC) at Dusoo Pampore in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district on Saturday. The primary objective of the visit was to explore and strengthen economic ties between the Czech Republic and India.
The delegation reviewed the facilities available for saffron farmers at the trade center, emphasizing the potential for future collaborations in the saffron industry. They held a productive meeting with local saffron growers, discussing various issues and developments crucial to the trade. Present at the meeting were the Managing Director of the Trade Promotion Organisation, Khalid Jahangir, the Director of Agriculture Kashmir, Choudhary Mohammad Iqbal, and other officials, underscoring the importance of the visit. The discussions focused on improving saffron production and marketing, potentially opening new avenues for export and trade between the two regions.
Ambassador Zigova expressed her appreciation for the efforts made by the saffron growers and the facilities provided at the trade center. She highlighted the mutual benefits of such collaborations, aiming to foster stronger economic ties and business opportunities.
“This is my first official visit to Jammu and Kashmir. I met so many people and had good discussions with representatives of business and trade,” Zigova told Kashmir Reader, adding that she visited IIKSTC in Pampore to see how saffron is developed. She expressed her delight at witnessing the best quality saffron grown in the world.
Speaking to Kashmir Reader, Khalid Jahangir, Managing Director of the Trade Promotion Organisation, mentioned that Eliska Zigova is on a three-day visit to explore trade options and enhance cooperation between the Czech Republic and Jammu and Kashmir. He noted that the delegation met with representatives from various institutions and organizations. Today, accompanied by her embassy members, Zigova visited IIKSTC, where she was briefed by Mohammad Iqbal Chaudhry, Director of Agriculture Production and Farmers Welfare, on how saffron is processed in the state-of-the-art laboratory section of the facility.
This briefing aimed to showcase the uniqueness and high quality of saffron grown in Pampore, which Zigova is expected to promote among buyers in her country. Jahangir added that this visit would help improve the market for saffron in the Czech Republic. The Managing Director revealed that Ambassador Zigova was highly impressed with the quality of Pampore’s saffron and hoped that buyers from the Czech Republic would connect with saffron farmers in Kashmir. “We will strive to facilitate this relationship between buyers from the Czech Republic and our growers,” he said, adding that the government is committed to strengthening market linkages for local products.
Speaking to Kashmir Reader, Javaid Ahmad Ganaie, a saffron grower, said they had detailed discussions with the ambassador. “We are hopeful that GI-tagged saffron from Kashmir will be exported to the Czech Republic and that potential buyers from the country will visit us for saffron trade,” he said, adding that such efforts will help revive the past glory of saffron farming in Kashmir. Dar mentioned that the ambassador assured them she would make efforts at the embassy level to promote Kashmiri saffron in the Czech Republic.
Saffron growers, including the head of the Saffron Growers Association, Abdul Majid Wani, expressed their gratitude to the Czech Republic’s Ambassador to India for her visit and support.

BILAL HABIB